More Americans believe in the Devil than in Darwin

"More Americans believe in a literal hell and the devil than Darwin's theory of evolution, according to a new Harris poll released on Thursday." Read the entire article here.

(Without your permission) Facebook undermines your internet anonymity

Online companies partnered with Facebook to unleash a new advertising strategy called Facebook Beacon. Now if you purchase, save, or look at something on one of those websites, the website will send your data to Facebook. For example, if you buy a movie on Blockbuster.com, it will publish your movie selection to your Friends' News Feed WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION.

I thought this was a hoax, but apparently, Facebook has given each site a piece of Facebook javascript to identity whether or not you are a Facebook user. Here is the story in the NY Times. Here is a blog entry about how to block the javascript (read: how to block Facebook Beacon). Here is a blog about the evolution of Facebook Beacon.

Can Iran inadvertently help the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks?

Steven Erlanger poses an insightful theory about the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. He says that many Middle Eastern countries are now supporting the peace process because they now have a more important goal: "stopping the rising regional influence of Iran and Islamic radicalism."

He claims that many traveled to the Annapolis Conference to gain a strategic alliance with the United Sates against Iran. He quotes Representative Gary L. Ackerman, Democrat of New York, who said, "Everybody at Annapolis has something in common. It’s not love of Israel or the Palestinians. It’s fear of Iran. Everyone needs a relative to protect them from Iran." Read the rest of his argument here.

A disturbing internet hoax in St. Louis

This story has received a lot of media attention recently:

DARDENNE PRAIRIE, Mo., Nov. 21 — Megan Meier died believing that somewhere in this world lived a boy named Josh Evans who hated her. He was 16, owned a pet snake, and she thought he was the cutest boyfriend she ever had.

Josh contacted Megan through her page on MySpace.com, the social networking Web site, said Megan’s mother, Tina Meier. They flirted for weeks, but only online — Josh said his family had no phone. On Oct. 15, 2006, Josh suddenly turned mean. He called Megan names, and later they traded insults for an hour.

The next day, in his final message, said Megan’s father, Ron Meier, Josh wrote, “The world would be a better place without you.”

Sobbing, Megan ran into her bedroom closet. Her mother found her there, hanging from a belt. She was 13.

Six weeks after Megan’s death, her parents learned that Josh Evans never existed. He was an online character created by Lori Drew, then 47, who lived four houses down the street in this rapidly growing community 35 miles northwest of St. Louis...

Read the rest of the story here.

"To Muslim (American) Girls, Scouts Offer a Chance to Fit In"

Girl Scout attire helps Haidara fit into her American city:

MINNEAPOLIS — Sometimes when Asma Haidara, a 12-year-old Somali immigrant, wants to shop at Target or ride the Minneapolis light-rail system, she puts her Girl Scout sash over her everyday clothes, which usually include a long skirt worn over pants as well as a swirling head scarf.

She has discovered that the trademark green sash — with its American flag, troop number (3009) and colorful merit badges — reduces the number of glowering looks she draws from people otherwise bothered by her traditional Muslim dress.

“When you say you are a girl scout, they say, ‘Oh, my daughter is a girl scout, too,’ and then they don’t think of you as a person from another planet,” said Asma, a slight, serious girl with a bright smile. “They are more comfortable about sitting next to me on the train...”

Read the rest of the story here.

New police tactic: paintballs

Here is an interesting concept -- In France, the police are trying to calm in uprising in Parisian suburbs.

...The police have made more than 30 arrests but have been restrained in controlling the violence, using tear gas to disperse the bands of young people and firing paint balls to identify people for possible arrests later...

Read the entire story here.

"Israel and Palestinians Set Goal of a Treaty in 2008"

"Officials from 49 nations gathered Tuesday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., for a one-day conference on Middle East peace." -- New York Times

This was the first time in seven years that the US played the peacemaker role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read the headline story here.